South Australian filly Mating Call to test Thousand Guineas credentials in Prelude at Sandown

Training for part-owner Robert Hill-Smith, a fifth generation proprietor of Yalumba Wines, indulging in a celebratory drop of red would only make sense.

But MacGillivray, and co-trainer Dan Clarken, are less focused on Barossa Valley spoils – race wins, and a fast filly will do just fine.

“As far as the reds go, I’m just happy to have the nice horses,” MacGillivray said.

Mating Call made a statement on Balaklava Cup day, unleashing a sizzling turn of foot to nail race favourite Sicilian Princess by a long neck in a 1200m Maiden Plate.

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It was validation for Clarken and MacGillivray, they have a huge opinion of the three-year-old, and are on a Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m, October 18) path, eyeing a start in Saturday’s Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Sandown.

“It was pretty impressive, we had a nomination in for the Thousand Guineas, which shows we had faith in her – but they still have to do it,” she said.

“To do it against older horses, with the track bias and everything that was against her, it’s done nothing but reinforce our faith.”

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The daughter of Brazen Beau hasn’t missed a beat since the win, arriving in Victoria on Sunday.

“She’s bounced. She’s come on, she hasn’t stopped eating,” she said.

“She arrived at Mornington about 5pm, she ate all her dinner and was bouncy on her way down to the track (Monday).

“We’re looking forward to seeing how she steps up to the grade.”

The training duo, who have 99 wins as a partnership, rate Mating Call as the best horse in their stable, despite welcoming back Melbourne Cup runner The Map – a multiple stakes winner.

“You get the full deal with her, she’s big and strong, she can obviously gallop and she seems to have the mental attitude to go with it,” MacGillivray said.

“She has always shown that bit of class, you ride her and she’s quite happy to be where you put her.

“We feel like she’s the complete article, that gives us as a lot of confidence.

“Fingers crossed we tick off the next box, in a perfect world we finish in the top three (Saturday) and get an automatic go into the Thousand Guineas.”

In what looms as a huge weekend for the stable, The Map faces a decisive test in Sunday’s Listed Ansett Classic at Mornington.

The Alpine Eagle mare finished 12th last Saturday, beaten five lengths over 1700m at Flemington in a hastily run affair.

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“We were actually delighted. She never got a moments let up, it was very strongly run”, she said.

“There wasn’t much between them all, she’s probably run some of the best sectionals she’s ran over that trip.

“It took her a couple of days to get over it because it was strongly run. That’s going to toughen her up.”

A rise to 2415m in the Ansett Classic is suitable, and will help determine whether a second consecutive Melbourne Cup is on the cards.

“It’ll be a bit of a pivotal moment in her spring campaign,” she said.

“If she comes through it with flying colours, we like the idea of a back-up in the Bart Cummings (October 4), she’s ran well on a short back-up before.

“It would really cement her fitness, then it’s a matter of perhaps one more run and into the Cup if we get that far.”

Jockey Ben Melham has been booked to ride both Mating Call and The Map.

Originally published as South Australian filly Mating Call to test Thousand Guineas credentials in Prelude at Sandown